Craig Wright Referred to UK Prosecutors for Alleged Perjury in Bitcoin Case

LONDON — Craig Wright, the Australian man who has claimed to be the creator of bitcoin, has been referred to British prosecutors for alleged perjury. This decision was made by British High Court Judge James Mellor, who directed the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for further consideration. The CPS will evaluate whether to prosecute Wright for what Mellor described as "wholescale perjury and forgery of documents." The referral follows a High Court ruling that found Wright had lied "extensively and repeatedly" in his attempts to substantiate his claim as the elusive bitcoin inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto. Judge Mellor characterized Wright's actions as a significant abuse of the legal process, noting that his claims have been pursued not only in the UK but also in Norway and the U.S. In light of the ruling, Wright has largely refrained from public comment. However, a legal notice appeared on his official website, which had been cleared of content shortly after the court's decision, stating, "DR CRAIG STEVEN WRIGHT IS NOT SATOSHI NAKAMOTO." This statement further distances him from the identity he has long claimed. Wright's holding company, Tulip Trading, did not respond to requests for comment from CNBC. The CPS's decision on whether to issue a warrant for Wright's arrest and potential extradition remains pending as the investigation unfolds.